Plucky puck rookies find their feet on the ice

Start'em young and keep it fun.

It's a maxim that applies to the entry level of all sports, but especially hockey. And it's a philosophy that China is embracing as the nation aims to one day become a global force on the ice.

But for the 4-and 5-year-olds chasing the puck at the inaugural Hebei provincial Ice and Snow Games in Chengde last weekend, dreams of the Olympics or NHL seem distant. Hockey is first and foremost a great way to help these kids grow－both physically and mentally.

"My son has played hockey for just four months, and I can see the change it has had on him, especially in terms of the team work," said Li Jia, one of the dozens of parents who drove hundreds of kilometers from Langfang to attend the tournament.

"He's still very young, but I can feel his passion for hockey. He always tells me that practicing is very tiring, but every time I ask him if he wants to quit, the answer is 'no'."

Indeed, the Langfang kids' enthusiasm for the sport only increased despite their first competitive outing ending in a 10-0 defeat on Saturday, against a home team of bigger children aged 8 to 10.

The parents, too, couldn't hide their pride in their little warriors, who were barely as tall as the four-foot nets.

Hockey, of course, is not for the faint-hearted, but its toughness is a plus rather than a negative for mom Li.

"First of all, our country is promoting ice hockey along with many other winter sports as the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics approach. Kids now enjoy a much better environment to pursue winter sports," she said.

"Despite there being no sports DNA in our family, both me and his father believe hockey is a sport that will help our son become a real man. I'm not worried about watching him fall down on the ice. He needs to learn how to get up when he falls down."

The youngest and smallest of all Langfang's players, Li's son Liu Ziyang earned a big hug from mom for his bravery. The little guy admitted he was shaking in his skates as his taller opponents hurtled towards him, but shouts of encouragement from his coach saw him through.

Last weekend's tournament attracted nine mixed teams, with the only stipulation being that players be under 12 years of age.

"We formed this team just two months ago and we have overcome many difficulties," said Chengde coach Han Sicheng.

"Many of our young players had never played hockey before, and some did not even know how to skate.

"However, all the kids fell in love with the game when they played. The parents, schools and local government all gave us great support. Our coaching team is also hosting training clinics in local schools trying to promote the sport and trying to find more talents.

"Without ice rinks in schools, we teach basic knowledge and other skills on land. Now we have 36 kids officially on the team, and many of them are really talented.

"There's still a big gap between Chinese ice hockey and the world's powerhouses in the sport like Canada. But I believe, with a consistent effort from all aspects of society, we are closing the gap."

Last weekend's event is indicative of improvements at grassroots level, while further up the chain, the inaugural edition of China's first professional domestic league this year is another big step forward.

According to coach Han, one of the major obstacles is the lack of suitable rinks. The opening of last weekend's venue in July was, therefore, a major boost for hockey in the region.

Boasting a training rink in addition to a main arena, Chengde's 46,036-square meter Ice Sports Center took over two years to build at a cost of 250 million yuan (around $35 million).

The center is capable of hosting international hockey tournaments, as well as major curling, speed skating and figure skating events. The main arena can also be used for summer sports like basketball and volleyball.

When it's not hosting competitions, the venue will be open to schools and the public for winter sports training and education.

"We are fully facilitating the venue for ice and snow sports in our city," said Wang Qihong, the deputy director of Chengde Sports Bureau.

"In all our districts and counties, we have skating rinks and different levels of winter sports tournaments. In 2020, our districts and counties will have indoor skating rinks and venues to meet the growing demand of the people."